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Rooftop Solar Panels
Rooftop solar is amazing, both from an environmental standpoint and the hundreds of dollars a year you stand to save. Choice Magazine reckons that your payback period for a 5kw solar panel system should be between 2-7 years in Aussie capital cities (depending on where you live, and how much you export back to the grid). After that, it’s pretty much pure profit for the rest of the decade (as your solar panels should come with a 10-year industry-standard warranty). CanStar Blue customer research finds that the average electricity bills of solar customers nationwide are just over $1.2k a year, compared to an average of $1.6k for non-solar customers. There’s not many investments where you’re virtually guaranteed to save hundreds a year; no wonder Australia is leading the way in rooftop solar, with 1 in 5 Aussie homes having solar panels!
Bokashi Bins
Peat compost is a common sight in Aussie hardware and gardening stores, but did you know that even though peat is good for plants, it’s bad for the planet?
“Peatlands store a third of the world’s soil carbon, and their harvesting and use releases carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas driving climate change. The biggest environmental risk from peatlands is if they catch fire, which happened spectacularly in 2015 in Indonesia on land cleared for plantations. Peatland fires account for up to 5 percent of human-caused carbon emissions, according to the United Nations.” – Washington Post
If you’d rather leave that peat where it belongs and not contribute to greenhouse gases, bokashi composting is a great solution, and Bokashi bins can be small enough to easily place on your kitchen bench. Check out Bunning’s guide to turning your food scraps into “liquid gold”with Bokashi composting!
Water Tanks
These aren’t just for idyllic rural sheep farms anymore; they’re actually increasingly common in urban settings, too; in fact, current plumbing regulations in Victoria make it mandatory for new homes to come with either a rainwater tank or a solar hot water system.
“A case study of a model home in Melbourne shows that the use of rainwater tanks to supply water for laundry, dishwashing, toilets and an outside garden reduces the reliance on municipal water by 40%.” – Melbourne Water
Water tanks don’t have to be huge, chunky, or unattractive, either. Slimline water tanks are a great choice for city-dwellers, narrow lots or people who want the same advantages provided by a round water tank, but with a more subtle look. They’re mounted onto the side of your house, and their rectangular shape means they make more efficient use of the space on your property – while significantly reducing your water bills, and helping our dams stay full. It also means that when mains water restrictions are in full swing, you can still have a thriving, healthy garden. Win-win!
So, if you’re ready to save hundreds on your water and electricity while keeping your garden green, exploring these three fixes will help you on your journey to a healthier planet and a healthier wallet to boot.